By JOSH ETHRIDGE/For the Reporter

The Pelham High School Panthers and Thompson High School Warriors faced off in area-play action March 4. The Panthers were able to beat the Warriors in a penalty-kick shootout 5-3.

The first action of the game came in the eighth minute as Thompson’s Jonathan Torres missed a header set up by a penalty kick. The save was made by Pelham keeper Andrue Ham.

A couple minutes later, Panther forward Jeremy Hughes broke behind the Warrior defense, but his shot was off target.

The first goal of the game came on a penalty kick by Thompson midfielder Jonathan Torres with 14 minutes left in the half giving the Warriors a 1-0 advantage.

Following the kick, THS forward Dimitri Davis had a good look at goal, but a diving save by Ham kept it a one-point game.

Heading into the half the Warriors led 1-0.

Much of the second half, the possession of the ball alternated between both teams, but the Panthers started to get an advantage down the stretch. Pelham had two crucial misses with fewer than 10 minutes left in the game.

In the 73^rd minute of the game the Panthers were able to get on the board on a penalty kick by Miguel Martinez.

The score by PHS sent the game into overtime. The game went through two five-minute overtime periods without either team scoring.

Following the second overtime, the game was decided in a penalty kick shootout.

Thompson missed its first of five penalty kicks putting them behind early in the period.

As the period progressed Pelham built up a 1-point advantage. Thompson lined up to try to tie up the game but the Ham made another diving save.

Pelham was able to clinch the win on its next penalty kick attempt.

The final score was Pelham 2, Thompson 1.

“You always get your money’s worth in a Pelham-Thompson soccer game,” said Pelham head coach Patrick McDonald following the game. “It’s always going to be competitive, it’s always going to be physical and the kids leave everything on the field.”